Tag: korea

North Koreans are attacking software supply chains

According to the UK’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), North Korea is using sophisticated techniques to target global organisations through software supply chain attacks.

In a joint advisory, the NCSC detailed the tactics DPRK state-linked cyber actors used, emphasising the growing threat and complexity of such attacks.

Supply chain attacks, a method where malicious actors compromise elements of the software distribution process, have become a favoured tool for DPRK cyber actors. These attacks, often involving zero-day vulnerabilities and exploits in third-party software, allow the actors to access specific targets or indiscriminate organisations through their supply chains.

The NCSC said these attacks are aligned with broader DPRK-state priorities, including revenue generation, espionage and the theft of advanced technologies.

The advisory comes on the heels of a new Strategic Cyber Partnership announced between the UK and the Republic of Korea, underscoring their commitment to collaboratively addressing common cyber threats.

Samsung returns its IP PBX customer support back to Korea

samsung-hqIn a move designed to give better support for its UK channel, Samsung is returning its IP PBX product assistance back to Korea.

Providing support directly from the Korean HQ should make life for the firm’s UK distributors easier.

Warren Hampton, general manager of networks for Samsung UK, said that the old support model had too many steps which slowed down the high-quality support the company wanted to offer.

He said that Samsung looked at ways of streamlining its service and come up with a new initiative that delivers support direct from its Korean HQ team.

“We strongly believe this will give our UK distributors the control and autonomy needed to offer the best product support to our channel,” he added.

Recent market analysis from WinterGreen Research found that the SIP based IP PBX market was heading towards a value of $6.5 billion worldwide by 2023 and cloud based set-ups were enabling vendors to offer PBX products as part of their digital transformation sales pitch.

OLED gets Korean government boost

SONY DSCLG is closely collaborating with the Korean government to promote local manufacturing of OLED displays in a move which could see the cost of the technology fall.

LG announced yesterday that it was investing $10 billion in its flexible OLED and big-screen TV manufacturing and hoped to create an ‘OLED Value Chain’ to lower the currently high price of OLED displays.

OLED TVs are only produced by LG because of that manufacturing cost, is so high it makes the incredible image quality too expensive.

However the Korean government is concerned that South Korea’s decades-long leadership in displays is being challenged by the rapid rise of Chinese companies,

LG Display’s CEO, Han Sang-beom, told delegates at an event in Paju that industry growth was flattening. Threats from China are urging the country to find something new.

“I believe OLEDs are the right solution to help the country lead its rivals in the battle for next-generation displays,” he said.

The Korean government has identified OLED as a key export item for the country and the Korean trade ministry is set to provide serious tax incentives when purchasing equipment for OLED production from local suppliers.

LG believes this expansion in OLED manufacturing will create hundreds of thousands of jobs and provide around $35bn worth of production.

Korean trade minister, Yoon Sang-jick said that the Korean government will be active in providing more supportive measures to help the country maintain continued leadership in the global display industry even in OLEDs.

Hon Hai ties up with Innolux

Hon-HaiHon Hai Precision Industry has tied up with flat panel maker Innolux and is investing $2.8 billion in a panel producing plant in Taiwan.

Hon Hai is desperately trying to find new revenue streams which do not depend on the fruity themed cargo cult, Apple.  Earlier this year it bought stakes in a Taiwanese mobile network provider and a South Korean IT services provider.

Under the plan, the pair will buy equipment for the facility located in the southern city of Kaohsiung and which is expected to start production in the second half of 2016.

The plant, which will make low-temperature polysilicon panels, predominantly for use in smartphones, was built in 2008, but was mothballed due to financial constraints after the 2008 global financial crisis.

The plans are still awaiting final approval from the boards of both companies, but it seems likely that Hon Hai will stump up for the majority of the cash. The Innolux representative said the investment may take the form of a new joint-venture company.

Hon Hai already holds a nine percent stake in Innolux though its various subsidiaries. It is all a little mysterious dot com.